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Access to Judicial Administrative Records

Effective January 1, 2010, rule 10.500 of the California Rules of Court set forth comprehensive public access provisions applicable to judicial administrative records maintained by state trial and appellate courts, and the Judicial Council of California (the council).

The council makes identifiable judicial administrative records available for inspection upon request unless the records are exempt from disclosure.

If you would like to request judicial administrative records maintained by the appellate courts or the council, you are invited to submit a request by completing a Request for Judicial Administrative Records form and sending it by e-mail, U.S. mail, or by fax. Submitting a request in alternate formats may delay processing of your request. Individuals with disabilities may make requests in alternate formats.

Please note: The council does NOT maintain records or documents related to specific cases filed in the Courts of California. You will need to contact the Court in which the record was originally filed to get this information. Documents or information held by the court are as follows:

Divorce records

Traffic Violations

Criminal records/history

Court records (complaints, pleadings or judgments)

Name change

Probate/wills

Jury service

Each superior court also maintains its own administrative records. Please request a court's judicial administrative records directly from the court. Instructions on requesting documents or access in alternate formats can be found on each local website. Find your local court website.

For more information on the history and adoption of rule 10.500, please review: Public Access to Judicial Administrative Records (adopt Cal. Rules of Court, rules 10.500 and 10.501; repeal rule 10.802; and amend rule 10.803), December 7, 2009.